Obama has done a lot already; let him finish the job

There are a number of economic reasons Staten Islanders should re-elect Barack Obama as president.

Confronting the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression when he took office in 2009, President Obama’s economic recovery program supported as many as 3.6 million jobs by cutting taxes, investing in clean energy, roads and bridges, keeping teachers in the classroom and protecting unemployment benefits, all over Republican opposition.

Demonstrating the value of government action in a crisis, President Obama saved the U.S. auto industry from collapse, preventing the loss of 3 million jobs and nudging it to restructure its business so that General Motors is now profitable and selling cars in America. Republicans wanted to close the plants.

Perhaps of greatest importance, the U.S. economy has now seen the private sector create nearly 3 million jobs during 22 months straight of private-sector job growth. If growth in the private sector is socialism, let’s have more of it.